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THUNDER & LIGHTNING; 


AND 


DEATHS AT MARSHFIELD 


IN 


1658 & 166 6. 


BY 


NATHANIEL BRADSTREET SHURTLEFF. 


BOSTON: 


PRIVATELY PRINTED. 


M DCCC L. 






100 COPIES' FOR PRIVATE USE. 



Gift 








I 



MEMORIAL 

OF 

TWO EVENTS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF OUR COUNTRY 

IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED TO 

THE MEMBERS OF 

THE 

immran 5lEtiqitatifln, 

AND 

Bosswlitisrtts Bistnriral Inri^ti^; 

BY AN 

ASSOCIATE. 



"Veterum non immemor parentmn." 



PREFACE. 



The principal object in preparing and 
printing this tract is to preserve, and keep 
together, certain facts relating to deaths in 
the town of Marshfield, which were caused 
by lightning nearly two centuries ago. 

WilHam ShurtlefF, who was killed in 1666, 
was the ancestor of all who bear the name 
in New England, and perhaps of all others 
of the name in this country: — And, if his 
name occurs here more frequently than that 
of others, the reason is obvious, that the 



writer wishes to preserve all that relates to 
his own ancestor, of whom he should be 
supposed to know more, and in whom he 
ought to feel a greater interest. Moreover, 
it is to be remembered that this is strictly 
a private tract, for private use only, and 
consequently, differs in many respects with 
published narratives, which are always public 
property, and amenable to the severest criti- 
cism according to the common usage. The 
accounts of the death of Mr. Shurtleff vary 
much; that in the letter of Mr. Arnold is 
more in accordance with the family belief, 
and is sustained by corroboratory evidence. 

The letter and its accompanying manu- 
script, given in these pages, are among the 
"Mather Papers," once belonging to Kev. 
Thomas Prince, the annalist, now preserved 
in the archives of the Massachusetts Histor- 



ical Society, and are now printed entire for 
the first time. 

An examination of Winsor's History ol 
Diixbury first drew attention to the real 
value of these original documents, the pres- 
ent importance of which had escaped notice, 
they having been reserved for a particular 
examination at a more convenient and less 
occupied time. 

It was not the primary intention of the 
writer to extend his tract to so many pages, 
few though they are; but a brief account 
of the town where the calamities happened, 
and short notices of the parties concerned, 
seemed necessary and unavoidable. 

N. B. S. 

2 Beacon Street, 
October, 1850. 




Clinnkr nnli Itigljtmng; 




SUDDEN DEATHS AT MARSHFIELD IN 

165 8 AND 16 6 6. 

IN the early days of New England, the 
town of Marshfield, in the Colony of 
New Plymouth, suffered very much from 
the effects of Hghtning. An account of 
two strokes, of particular severity, is contained in 
a letter to Rev. Increase Mather, pastor of the 
Second Church in Boston, from Rev. Samuel 
Arnold, pastor of the Church in Marshfield, and 
in an accompanying manuscript written by Capt. 
Nathaniel Thomas, also of Marshfield. Both are 
very graphically related from the testimony of 
eye-witnesses to the terrible events. 

The first of these occurred on the thirty first 
day of July, in the year 1658 ; when John, a 
son of Mr. John Phillips, Avhile in company with 

B 



Capt. Thomas, the narrator, was instantaneously 
struck dead, without any injury to his compan- 
ions. In the manuscript, which was Avritten a- 
bout tAventy five years after the occurrence, it is 
stated that this happened in August ; but Mr. 
Arnold Avrote in the margin of the manuscript 
the following words, probably obtained from some 
other person, whose testunony was equally as good 
and more positive ; — " the time as I am certainly 
informed was the last day of July 1658." In this, 
Mr. Arnold is sustained by Mr. Secretary Mor- 
ton in his New England's Memorial, and by the 
verdict of the jury of inquest held upon the bo- 
dy of the deceased on the day of the melan- 
choly occurrence, and which was recorded soon 
aftjer\anj(^g, the proceedings of the General Court 
of the ColoE^ gf New Plymouth. A literal copy 
of the above mentioned verdict will be given in 
its proper place. 

The second stroke of lightning occurred on 
the twenty third day of June, in the year 1666 ; 
and produced its dreadful effects upon the nu- 
merous inmates of the house of the same Mr. 
Phillips, whose son had been killed by the for- 



mer stroke. The relation of this is by Rev. Mr. 
Arnold, pastor of the Church in Marshfield at 
the time that it happened, who received the ac- 
count from Timothy Rogers, one of the persons 
who were present at the time of the calamity, 
and who was also one of those that were struck 
down by the fatal stroke. By this, Mrs. Phillips, 
the wife of the aforesaid John, and her son, and 
also Mr. William ShurtlefF, were killed on the 
instant of its occurrence. Although diligent search 
has been made in the various town, county and 
colonial records, no evidence can be found that 
any inquest was ever held upon the deceased. 

The last event is noticed in most of the written 
diaries of the day, and also in the histories of the 
Colony. Secretary Morton gives a very detailed 
account of it in the Memorial, as does also Rev. 
Timothy Alden in his account of the religious 
societies in Portsmouth, N. H. These are copied in 
a subsequent part of this tract. John Josselyn, 
in his " Chronological Observations of America," 
printed in 1674, mentions it thus : — " Three kill'd 
in a moment by a bloAv of Thunder at Marsh- 
field in Ncw-Plimouth colony, and four at Pascal- 



8 



away colony, and divers burnt with lightning, a 
great whirlwind at the same time. " In the diary 
of John Hull, the famous mint-master of the Mas- 
sachusetts Colony, the fact is recorded without any 
mention of the name of town or persons, or the 
exact day of its occurrence. Rev. William Hub- 
bard, in his history, erroneously uses the name of 
John for William, in stating that " in the year 
1666, three were in like manner suddenly killed in 
a storm of thunder, whereof one was named John 
ShurtlefF, that had a child in his hand, and was 
holding his wife in the other, both of whom es- 
caped, when himself was struck dead." 

These occurrences are so accurately described 
and well related in the letter and manuscript al- 
ready alluded to, that they are given here in the 
exact words of the writers, the peculiarities of the 
spelling, punctuation and style being folloAved with 
great care. The same are repeated, in order to 
have them appear in a more modern form ; and, 
therefore, in one more easily and intelligibly read, 
and more conformable with the present style. 



Letter from Rev. Samuel Arnold^ Senior^ 
to Rev. Increase Mather. 



Reverend Sir I salute you in the Lord & have 
according to your desire indeavoured to giue you 
the best informatjon I could obtaine respecting the 
2 terrible stroakes by thunder & lightning that were 
in our toune by enquiry of such as were eye wit- 
nesses of those awfull dispensatjons being as brands 
pluckt out of the burning./ as for the first in July 
last day 1658. I refer you to the enclosed paper 
v/hich I obtained from Capt : Nath : Thomas written 
with his oun hand 

As for the second being on June 23. 1666. 
we being sorely distressed with drought had on 
the 4"* day of the week made our address to the 
most high God by humble fasting 6c prayer, the 
drought continued till the last day of the sayd 



10 



weeke on which day it pleased God to answer us 
by terrible things in righteousnes who was yet the 
God of our salvatjon, for about the middle of the 
sayd day there arose in the north the most dismall 
black cloud I thinke that ever I saw our eyes were 
fixed upon it so pinching was the drought we feared 
least it should go beside us & so terrible was the 
aspect of it that we trembled least it should come 
ouer us, but God that steers the course of the clouds 
so disposed that it came directly ouer our toune 
& it was extreamly darke & thundred & lightnd 
dreadfully, & ther being in the hous of John Phil- 
lips ( father to the foresayd John PhiUips slaine by 
the former stroake ) the number of 14 .^sons the 
woman of the hous calling earnestly to shut the 
dore which was done, instantly a terrible clap of 
thunder fell upon the hous & rent the chimney & 
split the doore in many places & struck most of 
the ^sons if not all. 

Timothy Rogers my informer told me that when 
he came to himselfe he saw the house full of smoake 
& there was a terrible smell of brimstone & that 
fire lay scattered all about the floore whether the 
fire that was upon the hearth by the vjolence of the 



11 



stroake hurled about the hous or fire from heaven 
he kn not, he thought at first that all the people 
had been dead but himselfe till it pleased God to 
reviue the most of them, but 3 of them were mor- 
tally struck with Gods arrowes that they never 
breathed more ( viz ) the wife of John Philhps 
& a son of his about 20 yeers of age or upwards 
and one Willj : Shertly who having been a little 
before burnt out of his oun hous & was with his 
family a present sojourner there, who had ( as is 
sayd ) a little child in his armes which was won- 
derfully preserued, there was also a dog slaine 
under a table behinde 2 little children sitting as is 
sayd upon the table ledge the wife of the sayd 
Shertly being big with childe neer her full time 
was gracjously reviued & notwithstanding both 
stroak & fright seasonably & mercifully dehuered 
we may say as Elihu Job 36. 31 by them he 
judges the people & giues meat in abundance the 
Lord guide that we may sing of mercy & judgment 
& walk uisely in a .^-fect way untill he come unto 
us, & the Lord guide your son & croune your pjous 
indeavours both by tongue & you with a blessing to 
the promoting of his oun glory the good of the pres- 



12 



eiil & after generatjon?! which shall be the prayer 
of him who desires an interest in yonr prayers ^ 

am 
Yours in what I may serve you 
Sam : Arnold Senj : 
Marshfeild July 28. 1683. 

Sir I thanke you for your booke, & present my 
salutatjons to M" Mather, & your good son Cotton, 
whome I pray God to bless & make a blessing, 
it was almost a month after the date of your 
first letter ere I receiued it. 

To the Reverend M' Increas 

Mather Teacher to the 

Church in the North 

end of Boston thes 

present 



^ 
/ 



13 



The foregoing Letter modernized. 



Reverend Sir, 

I salute you in the Lord ; and have, according 
to your desire, endeavored to give you the best 
information I could obtain respecting the two 
terrible strokes by thunder and lightning that 
were in our town, by inquiry of such as were 
eye-witnesses of those a^vful dispensations, being 
as brands plucked out of the burning. As for the 
first, in July, last day, 1658, I refer you to the 
inclosed paper, which I obtained from Captain 
Nathaniel Thomas, written ^vith his own hand. 

As for the second, being on June 23, 1666, 
we being sorely distressed with drought, had on 
the fourth day of the week made our address to the 
most high God by humble fasting and prayer. The 
drought continued till the last day of the said 



14 



week, on which day it pleased God to answer us 
by terrible things in righteousness ; who was yet the 
God of our salvation, for about the middle of the 
said day there arose in the north the most dismal 
black cloud, I think, that ever I saw. Our eyes 
were fixed upon it ; so pinching was the drought we 
feared lest it should go beside us, and so terrible 
was the aspect of it, that we trembled lest it should 
come over us. But God, that steers the course of 
the clouds, so disposed that it came directly over 
our town ; and it was extremely dark, and thun- 
dered and lightened dreadfully , and there being in 
the house of John Philhps ( father to the aforesaid 
John Phillips slain by the former stroke, ) the num- 
ber of fourteen persons, the woman of the house 
calling earnestly to shut the door, which was done, 
instantly a terrible clap of thunder fell upon the 
house, and rent the chimney and split the door in 
many places, and struck most of the persons, if 
not all. 

Timothy Rogers, my informer, told me, that when 
he came to himself, he saw the house full of smoke, 
and there was a terrible smell of brimstone, and that 
fire laid scattered all about the floor; whether the 



15 



fire that was upon the hearth, by the violence of the 
stroke, hurled about the house, or fire firom heaven, 
he Imew not. He thought, at first, that all the peo- 
ple had been dead but himself, till it pleased God to 
revive the most of them. But three of them were 
mortally struck with God's arrows, that they never 
breathed more, viz : — the wife of John PhiUips, and 
a son of his, about twenty years of age or upwards, 
and one William ShurtlefF, who having been a httle 
before burnt out of liis own house, and was, with his 
family, a present sojourner there, who had, as is 
said, a little child in his arms, which was won- 
derfully preserved. There was also a dog slain 
under a table, behind two httle children, sitting, as 
is said, upon the table ledge. The wife of the said 
Shurtleff, bemg big with cliild, near her full time, 
was graciously revived ; and, notwithstandmg both 
stroke and fright, seasonably and mercifully dehvered. 
We may say as Elihu, Job, xxxvi. 31., " by them 
judgeth he the people ; he giveth them meat in abun- 
dance." The Lord guide, that Ave may smg of mer- 
cy and judgment, and walk wisely in a perfect way, 
until he come unto us ; and the Lord guide your son, 
and crown your pious endeavors both by tongue. 



16 



and you with a blessing, to the promoting of his own 
glory, the good of the present and after generations, 
which shall be the prayer of him who desires an 
interest in your prayers, and am 

Yours in what I may serve you. 
Samuel Arnold, Sen. 
Marshfield, July 28, 1683. 

Sir, I thank you for your book, and present my 
salutations to Mrs, Mather, and your good son Cot- 
ton, whom I pray God to bless and make a blessing. 
It was almost a month after the date of your 
first letter ere I received it. 



To the Reverend Mr. Increase Mather, 

Teacher to the Church in the 

North end of Boston, 

these present. 




17 



Manuscript of Captain JVathaniel Thomas , 
in Rev. S. Arnold's Letter. 



In the month of August in the yeare 1658 there 
was in the Towne of Marshfeild a terrible storm 
of Thunder Lightening & raine, & as I was 
goeing homeward being about a mile from home 
I meet with one John Phillips & another man 
coming out of a meadow from makeing hay 
to the next house for shelter from the storm, 
who aduised me to goe in with them to the 
house least I should be ouertaken in the storm 
€re I should get home the storm then coming 
vp exseeding black & Terrible I accordingly 
went in with them. & the s"* PhiUips sat downe 
on a stools with his face toward the Iner door 
& his back to the hearth & his side closs to 
the Jarn of the chimney I sat downe with my 



18 



face directly toward him about six loot from him, 
the Thunder came quickly vp ouer the house 
The Clouds flying exseeding Low & thick soe 
that the heauens Avere much darkened Then in a 
moment came downe ( as it were ) a great ball 
of fire with a Terrible crack of Thunder & fell 
Just before where the s^ Phillips sat, my eye 
then hapening to be on him saw him- once start 
on the stole he sat on & fell from thence dead 
on the hearth backward without any motion of 
life, many bricks of the chiney were beaten downe 
the principle Rafters split the battens & lineing 
next the chiney in the chamber broken, one of 
the maine posts of the house into which the sum- 
er was framed torn in to shiuers & great part 
of it caried seuerall rod from the house, the dore 
where the ball of fire came downe Just before 
the s*^ Phillips was broken downe, out of the gert 
or sumer afores*^ being a dry oake was peices 
wonderfully taken, I doe not remember there was 
any outward appearance of hurt vpon the body 
of the s*^ Phillips, a young child being at that 
moment about three foot from s^ Phillips had 
noe harm 



19 



The foregoing Manuscript 'modernized. 



In the month of August, in the year I608, 
there was, in the Town of Marshfieid, a terrible 
storm of thunder, lightning and rain ; and as I 
was going homeward, being about a mile from 
home, I met with one John Phillips, and another 
man, coming out of a meadow, from making 
hay, to the next house for shelter from the storm, 
who advised me to go in with them to the 
house, lest I should be overtaken in the storm 
before I could get home. The storm then coming 
up exceedingly black and terrible, I accordingly 
went in with them. The said Phillips sat down 
upon a stool, with his face towards the inner door, 
his back to the hearth, and his side close to 
the jam of the chimney. I sat down with my 
face directly towards him, about six feet from him. 



20 



The thunder came quickly up over the house, 
the clouds flying exceedingly low and thick, so 
that the heavens were much darkened. Then in 
a moment came down, as it were, a great ball 
of fire with a terrible crack of thunder, and fell 
just before where the said Philhps sat. My eye 
then happening to be on him, I saw him at once 
start from the stool he sat upon, and fall thence 
backward upon the hearth dead, without any 
motion of life. Many bricks of the chimney were 
beaten down, the principal rafters split, the bat- 
tens and lining next the chimney in the chamber 
broken, and one of' the main posts of the house, 
into which the summer was framed, torn into 
shivers and great part of it carried several rods 
from the house. The door, where the ball of fire 
came down just before the said Phillips, was bro- 
ken down. Pieces were wonderfully taken out 
of the girt, or aforesaid summer, being of dry 
oak. I do not remember that there was any out- 
ward appearance of hurt upon the body of the 
said Phillips. A young child, being at that mo- 
ment about three feet from said Philhps, had 
no harm. 



21 



Inquest on the body of John Phillips, taken 
from the Records of Plymouth Colony. 



"Att the Court of Assistants held att Plymouth 
the fourth of August 1658 befor Willam Collyare 
Cap' Josias Winslow Leiftenant Thomas South- 
worth and Ensigne Willam Bradford Assistants 
&c. 
Mr Josias Winslow Sen' Timothy Williamson 
Mr John Bradford Abraham Jackson 

Mr Samuell Arnold Samuell Baker 

Thomas Doghead Anthony Snow 

John Russell Josepth Rose 

John Adams John Caruer 

Being Impannelled and sworne to site vpon the 
Corpes of John Philhpes Jun', whoe very sud- 
denly expired on Satterday the last of July 
I608. 



22 



Wee find That this p''sent day John PhiUips 
Jun' came into his dwelling lately knowne or 
called Mr Buckleyes house in good health as 
Goodwife Williamson afeirmeth and satt vpon a 
stoole by the Chimney and by an Imediate hand 
of God manifested in Thunder and lightening 
the said John PhiUipcs came by his death." — 
Court Orders, Vol. III. p. 141. 



From T. Mden's Account of the Religious 
Societies in Portsmouth, JV. H. 



"He" [William Shurtleff] "lived in Marshfield 
and was Idlled with lightning, in 1666. The tra- 
dition is that he was endeavouring to comfort his 
wife, who was much terrified at the severity of the 
tempest, and had just taken an infant from her 
arms and was seated, having one child between 
his knees and the other two in his lap ; yet the 
flash of hghtning, which killed him, did neither 
of them nor his wife any injury." — Mass. Hist. 
Collections, Vol. X. p. 70. 



23 



Extracts from Morton's JVeiv-England's 
Memorial. 



1658. " This year, on the last day of July, it 
pleased God that by Thunder and Lightning one 
John Philips of Marshfield, in the Jurisdiction of 
Neiv-Plimouth, was suddenly slain." — p. 155. 

1666. " This year it pleased God to go on in 
a manifestation of his displeasure against Neiu-En- 
gland, in a very remarkable manner, by striking 
dead in a moment, by a blow of Thunder, tlnree 
persons in the ToAvn of Marshfield in the Juris- 
diction of Neto-Plimouth, in the moneth of June, 
viz. one named William Shirtliff, and a Woman 
and a Youth; which sad Dispensation of Gods 
hand, being considered with some Circumstances, 
gave cause to the beholders to be much astonished : 
the said Shirtliff hsN'mg his Wife by the hand, an^ 



24 



sitting by her to chear her, in respect that tJie said 
storm was so fierce, he was slain, and she preserved, 
though in some measure scorched with the Light- 
ning ; yea, he had one of his Children in his arms, 
and himself slain, and the Childe preserved. We 
have likewise received intelligence of four more 
that about that time were slain by Thunder and 
Lightning about Pascataqua, and divers more hurt. 
At the time of this storm of Thunder and Light- 
ning, in the which those of Marshfield died, there 
arose likewise a very great Whirlwind, that where 
it came it tore up Trees by the Roots, though 
through mercy it did little other hurt. 

It was a great while, and many years spent 
since the English came into these parts, before any 
very considerable hurt was done by Thunder and 
Lightning to either man, or beast appertaining to 
them, although sometimes very fierce storms of that 
kinde, as frequently as in these times : but now 
how doth the Lord go on gradually in this, as in 
other Judgements here in New-Eng-land ? first, by 
striking Cattel, and then one person at a time, 
and this year divers, to the number of seven, be- 
sides some Cattel also. 



2r) 

Thus God tkuiukretk marvellously with his voice,^''^ ^"^ ^■ 
he worketh great things which we knmv not: He& 40. a 
can send the Lightnings that they may ivalk, and 
say, Lo here we are. Hath any an arm like God? 
or can any thunder with a voice like him? By his 
terrible Voice he breaketh the Cedars, and dividcth^ , on <. . 

irsai. ^y. Oj 7.' 

t/ie flames of fire; which he commissionates to do 
his pleasure, sometimes not onely striking Cedars, 
but gi-eat Oaks in a wonderful manner, sometimes 
Beasts, sometimes Men and Women. If Gods 
Judgements have thus been abroad in the Earth, 1^^,^1,26.9. 
how ought the Inhabitants (of New-England) to learn 
righteousness? How easily can the Lord stain the 
pride of our glory with a stroke of his hand ? Let 
not the famiharness or frequency of such Pro\d- 
dences, cause them to be neglected by us, to im- 
prove them as God would have us, to fear before '^^^^^- ^- ^^^ 
him, and to turn from such iniquities especially as 
are most displeasing unto him, and to hold om- Hves 
in our hands, and to be ui a readmess for his 
pleasure, lest knowing not our time, as the fishes ^cdes. 9. 12 
that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds 
that are caught in the snare, so we shall be snared 
in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon us. 



26 



This year the Lord threatned the Country with 
tliat infectious and contagious Disease of the Small 
Pox, which began at Boston, whereof some few 
died : but through his great mercy it is stayed, 
and none of late' have died thereof. 

This year the Lord likewise threatned, and in 
some measure executed his displeasure upon the 
Country by Drought ; but through his mercy hath 
of late sent plenty of Rain, for the recovering of 
the fruits of the earth. Althouarh it is to be ob- 
served. That soon after a day of Humiliation was 
observed by some Congregations, for the blessing 
of Rain in the Drought above-mentioned, that sad 
stroke by the Thunder and Lightning at Marshfield 
fell out : so that we may say with the Psalmist 
unto the Lord, By terrible things in Righteousness 
thou hast answered us, O God of our Salvation.''^ — 
pp. 178 — 180. 



27 



The Town of Marshjield. 



During the first few years of the settlement 
of the Plymouth Colony it Avas the policy of our 
fathers to concentrate all matters of government, 
whether parochial, municipal, or colonial, in the 
place Avhere they first settled, and therefore Ply- 
mouth was the only incorporated town in the 
Colony. Consequently, although many of the most 
important men dwelt at a considerable distance 
from this settlement, they were all obliged to per- 
form pohtical duties and attend religious services 
in this town, to their no small hinderance and 
trouble. 

About the year 1632, the inconvenience of go- 
ing to Plymouth for everything being so great, 
a few precincts were formed, which were subse- 
quently incorporated into towns. To prevent as 



28 



much as possible a removal of the better sort of 
persons from Plymouth, it was thought advisable 
to apportion some of the land which was a little 
remote to such special persons as would promise 
not to remove, but who would cultivate by ser- 
vants in their employ such land as farms. Al- 
lotments were therefore made of land at a place 
called Green's Harbor, where no grants had ever 
been made. This constituted the beginning of 
the town of Marshfield; which, although it con- 
tained a very fair proportion of the intelhgent 
members of the colony, was not incorporated until 
sometime afterwards. It Avas known to the aborig- 
ines as Missaucatucket, and was first called by 
the Plymouth people Rexame. On March 2nd 
1640-1 Josias Winslow was "sworne to execute 
the office of Constable there" [Rexame] "until) 
June come twelue months." The name Marsh- 
field first appears in the Records, on the 1st of 
March, 1641-2. It was first represented in the 
colonial government in the year 1642 by Thomas 
Bourne and Kenelm Winslow as Deputies, Edward 
Winslow and William Thomas, inhabitants of the 
same town, being at the same time Assistants. 



29 



Our excellent fathers watched dihgently over the 
religious interests of new towns, and took special 
care that a good ministry should be sustained, and 
that those who had the charge of dispensing the 
divine Avord should be particularly provided for in 
the bestowment of land. In furtherance of this, 
and for the benefit of the future minister of the 
territorial district which afterwards was incorporated 
as Marshfield, the following Court Order was passed 
on the 3d of March, 1639-40, at a time when there 
was a controversy between this precinct and the 
town of Duxbury, concerning their boundary line : — 
" Whereas there is a controversy betwixt Greens 
harbour & Duxborrow about the lands betweene 
the fresh of Greens Harbour riuer and the South 
Riuer It is ordered and graunted by the Court of 
freemen to M*" Edward Winslowe & the rest of the 
Neighbourhood of Greens Harbour a competent 
^con of vplands and meddowe betwixt the said 
Riuers for a farme for a minister and one other 
competent porcon of land nere vnto the said lot 
for the minister either for Nehemiah Smyth or some 
other as the said Inhabitants of Greens harbour 
shall place in." 

D 



30 



In regard to religious instruction, the people of 
Marshfield were singularly fortunate in possessing 
for their early teachers, men of excellence, learning 
and ability. To one of these we are indebted for 
the preservation of the particulars of the melan- 
choly events, which it is the object of these few 
pages to commemorate. 

The first pastor of the Church at Marshfield 
was Rev. Richard Blinman, a Welchman, who 
came to New England through the influence of 
Governor Winslow. He was admitted to the 
freedom of the Massachusetts Colony on the 7th 
of October, 1641, having been previously pro- 
pounded at Plymouth on the 2nd of March, 
1640-1, and soon after removed to Marshfield, 
where he remained only a very short time. He 
afterwards was at Gloucester, New London and 
New Haven, and finally returned to England, and 
preached in Bristol, where he died at an advanced 
age. That he was ever settled over the Church, 
so as to entitle him to be considered its pastor, 
is doubtful; but the offices which he performed 
may, through courtesy and with propriety, give 
him the title, which he perhaps did not have by 



31 

a regular settlement, according to the custom and 
manner of the time, over the Marshfield Church. 

Rev. Edward Bulkeley, the oldest son of Rev. 
Peter Bulkeley of Concord, was the second pastor 
of the Church of Marshfield. He was settled 
about the year 1642, and left, in 1658, for Con- 
cord, where he was afterAvards settled, as the 
successor to his father, in 1660. He was admitted 
to the fellowship of the First Church in Boston 
on the 22d of March, 1634-5, as a " singleman" ; 
and Avas dismissed from the same Church on the 
loih of August, 1641, in the following words : — 
" Our brother M"" Edward Buckley was by y'" 
Churches silence consented to be dismissed to y^ 
Church at Concord vpon his & their desire." He 
was admitted to the freedom of the Plymouth 
Colony on the 5th of June, 1644. He died, in 
a good old age, on the 2nd of January, 1695-6, 
at Chelmsford, and was interred at Concord. 

Rev. Samuel Arnold, the third pastor and the 
author of the letter printed on pages 9 — 16, was 
settled over the church in 1658. He was admitted 
to be a freeman of the Colony of New Plymouth 
on the 7th of June, 1653, having been propounded 



32 



for freedom on the 3d of June of the previous 
year. He was, probably, an early inhabitant of 
Sandwich, where, in 1643, there was a^ person 
of the same name of suitable age to be enrolled 
among those who were able to perform inilitary 
duty, he being at that time the only individual 
in the Colony known to bear that name. Subse- 
quently a Samuel Arnold, undoubtedly the same, 
was at Yarmouth, where he had a son Samuel 
born on the ninth day of May, in 1649. He 
continued with the Marshfield Church until his 
decease, which occurred on the 1st of Septem- 
ber, 1693. He was succeeded in the ministry 
by Rev. Edward Tompson in 1696. 

Mr. Arnold was present at the inquest on the 
dead body of John Phillips, Jr., being one of 
the jurymen ; and, as this jury was very exact 
in reporting the precise time of the occurrence, 
which happened on the day on which the inquest 
was held, it is presumed that he had no doubt 
as to the time, although Captain Thomas gavi^ 
the %vrong month in his manuscript. 

Captain Nathaniel Thomas, the author of the 
manuscript printed on pages 17 — 20, was probably 



33 



the grandson of Mr. William Thomas, a man of 
much distinction among the early settlers of Ply- 
mouth. The progenitor, and his son Nathaniel, 
came very early from Wales, and were among the 
first inhabitants of Marshfield, where they severally 
served the Colony and Town many years, in very 
important trusts, Avith great credit. 

The elder Mr. Thomas was one of the " Pur- 
chasers or Old Comers," and was held in much 
esteem by the Colonists, who in 1642, and annually 
until his decease, chose him to the honorable and 
responsible office of Assistant. He died, according 
to the inscription on his grave-stone in Marshfield, 
in the month of August, 1651, being in " about 
the seventy eighth year of his age." His character 
is faithfully given by Mr. Secretary Morton, in 
the " New England's Memorial." 

The son. Captain Nathaniel Thomas, Senior, 
died on the thirteenth of February, 1674-0, in the 
sixty eighth year of his age. His descendants 
have been nmnerous in Marshfield, Plymouth, and 
several other towns which formerly were comprised 
within the jurisdiction of the Old Colony of New 
Plymouth. He had an only son named Nathaniel 



34 



who in 1683, the same year in which Rev. Mr. 
Arnold's letter was written, was also styled Cap- 
tain. This son was born about the year 1644 ; 
and, consequently, was only fourteen years old 
at the time of the decease of Phillips, in 1658, 
while his father was about fifty two. As both 
of these bore the same title, — as the father died 
in 1674-5, eight years before Mr. Arnold's letter 
Avas written, — and as the son was alive in 1658, 
although very young, — it is somewhat doubtful 
which of the two wrote the manuscript, Avhich un- 
fortunately neither signed nor dated. 

The second Nathaniel Thomas died on the 
twenty second of October, 1718, at the age of 
seventy four years. He served in the famous 
war against Philip, the Chief of the Narraganset 
Indians, and performed many other important ser- 
vices for the Town and Colony. 

Mr. Timothy Rogers, the eye-witness to the 
terrible event of June, 1666, was son of Mr. 
John Rogers of Duxbury, and grandson of the 
Thomas Rogers who came passenger in the May 
Flower in the memorable voyage of 1620. In 
1681, although he had not attained the age of 



05 



sixty years, he was exonerated from bearing arms 
on account of lameness. 

The town of Marshfield numbered among its 
inhabitants some of the most respectable families 
and useful individuals in the Colony. Among 
them, and not mentioned in these pages or only 
slightly alluded to, were those bearing the names 
of Winslow, Sprague, Bourne, Waterman, Brad- 
ford, Rowland, Adams, Snow, Eames, Holmes, 
Weston, Dingley, Russell, Sherman, Williamson, 
Barker, Beesbeech, Bisbee, Beare, White, Ford, 
Truant, Chillings worth, Carver, and Rouse. These 
are the names of the principal inhabitants previous 
to the year 1666. Some of them were in the 
town only a short time, and finally settled else- 
where ; while others remained there for several 
generations. 

In August, 1643, forty nine of the inhabitants 
of Marshfield were em'olled as being able to do 
mihtary duty, they being between the ages of 
sixteen and sixty years. 

On the earliest Kst of freemen, probably taken 
dm-ing, or about, the year 1644, there Avere only 
eleven names of persons who belonged to the 



36 



town of Marshfield. These were, in the orthogra- 
phy of the record, as follow : — 

Mr Edward Winslow Robte Waterman 
Mr Wm Thomas John Dingley 

Josias Winslow Thorn Shillingsworth 

Kanelme Winslow John Russell 

Mr Thomas Burne Mr Nathaniell Thomas. 

Mr Edw Buckley 

The number of " The names of such as have 
taken the Oath of Fidelity of the Toune of Marsh- 
feild in the yeare 1657 " was twenty seven. 

A list, which appears to be of Freemen, without 
date, but evidently prepared in 1658, contains 
twenty six names. 

The Freemen in 1664 were thirty two in 
number. Among them was William ShurtlefF. 
In May, 1670, there were twenty nine Freemen. 
In March, 1683-4, the number amounted to sixty 
three, and contained many names not mentioned 
in these pages ; such as, Foster, Crooker, Little, 
Dogget, Branch, Hewet, Sylvester, Walker, King, 
Macall, Wood, Read, Staniford, Childs, Baker, 
Sayer, Tayler, Rogers and Stevens. 



37 



The family of Mr. John Phillips. 



Very little is known concerning this ill-fated 
family, which suffered so much by the singular 
calamities which happened, through the agency of 
lightning, to the town of Marshfield, in the years 
1658 and 1666. 

John Phillips, the stirps, is first mentioned in 
the Plymouth Colony Records, as early as the sixth 
of April, 1640, when he had " a garden place vpon 
Stony brooke in Duxborrow" laid out for him by 
order of the Court. On the fourth of June, of the 
same year, he had a grant of four acres in the 
same neighborhood ; and, on the second of the fol- 
lowing November, he had twenty acres " of those 
lands that lye Northward from Duxborrow mill 
towards Greens Harbour," " his houslott to be ^t 
thereof." In 1643, he was an inhabitant of Dux- 



38 



bury, as his name appears on the hst with tho.^o 
of that town who were able to bear arms. On 
the seventh of June, 1659, he was propounded to 
take up his freedom ; which he does not appear 
to have done, as his name is not on any hst that 
has been preserved, nor is his admission recorded 
in the books of the Colony. 

The name of his fost wife is not known, nor 
the time of her decease. 

His second wife, whom he married on the sixth 
of July, 1654, was Grace, the widow of Mr. 
WiUiam Holloway. She was represented as being 
very infirm in 1653, at the time of the decease 
of Mr. Holloway, and was therefore assisted in the 
settlement of his estate by Rev. Mr. BuU^eley, and, 
subsequently, by the elder Mr. Phillips. The last 
of whom became bound to pay certain amounts 
to her two children ; which obhgation he perform- 
ed some time afterwards, one of the recipients 
being an unmarried daughter named Grace, as 
her mother, and the other, her sister. 

Mrs. Grace Phillips was one of the victims to 
the stroke of lightning which occurred on the 
twenty third of June, 1666. 



39 



Soon after the death of this wife, Mr. Phillips, 
on the twenty third of February, 1666-7, made a 
contract of marriage with Mrs. Faith Dotey, the 
widow of the May Flower pilgrim, Edward, which 
was consummated by marriage on the fourteenth 
of the subsequent March. By this contract, which 
is recorded at considerable length on the 164th page 
of the fourth volume of Court Orders of the Ply- 
mouth Colony, it appears that both parties had 
several children. Those of Mr. Philhps are made 
known through his will and otherwise, and have 
been already mentioned. Her family consisted 
of several sons, Edward, Thomas, John, and 
possibly more, and daughters. Desire, Elizabeth 
and Mary. 

Mrs. Faith Phillips died a short time previous to 
July, 1677, when her estate, which she had inher- 
ited from her first husband, was divided among her 
children. Her maiden name was Clarke, and her 
father, Thirston Clarke, ( frequently called Tris- 
tram, ) and his wife Faith, Avere early inhabitants 
of Plymouth. Many of her descendants are now 
living ill New England, particularly at Plymouth, 
and in its neighborhood. 



40 



His children by his first wife were the following : 
John, perhaps his oldest, who was killed by light- 
ning on the thirty first of July, 1658 ; Samuel ; 
Jeremiah, killed in the same manner on the twenty 
third of June, 1666, at the same instant with his 
step-mother and Mr. William ShurtlefF; and Mary. 

By his second wife, Grace, he had Hannah and 
Grace, Joseph, and Benjamin. 

By his third wife, Faith, he is supposed to have 
had no issue. 

Of the sons, Samuel and Benjamin survived 
their parents. They were married and had issue. 
Mary, the only daughter which survived her father, 
was weak m intellect, and had, on that account, 
a special provision in his will. 

Mr. John PhiUips is supposed to have died in 
Marshfield, some time in the fall of 1691, perhaps in 
October of that year, having arrived to about the 
ninetieth year of his age. 



41 



Ji brief Notice of William Shurtleff, of 
Marshjield. 



Among the adventurous few who came to New 
England, during the first fifteen years of the exist- 
ence of the Colony of New Plymouth, was Wil- 
liam Shurtleff; and so young was he when he 
was indentured as an apprentice, in 1634, that he 
was to serve eleven years, as is made apparent by 
the following entry, preserved on the seventieth page 
of the first volume of the Plymouth Court Orders : — 
"September ) Wilham Shetle hath put himselfe 
2. 1634 j an apprentise to Thomas Clarke 
for the terme of cleuen yeares from the 16 of May 
last and at the end of the sayd terme the sayd 
Thomas is to cloth him with two sutes fit for 
such a seruant and also eyght Bushells of Indian 
Corne." 

E 



42 



In olden times the word "servant" had a very 
different signification from its present acceptation. 
Then, it was generally applied to an apprentice, 
and to any person who was in the employ of 
others ; or, in the Avords of an old lexicographer, 
" one who serves another." Now, it is used to 
denote an individual whose occupation is menial 
in its nature ; or, according to modern authority, 
to " one in subjection, a menial," &c. 

The Thomas Clarke, to whom young Shurtleff 
was apprenticed, was by trade a carpenter. He 
came to Plymouth m the Ann, in the summer 
of 1623, where he dwelt until his decease in 
1697. His grave-stone, one of the oldest on 
Plymouth burying hill, marks his earthly restmg- 
place. Without any apparent evidence, he has 
been confounded by many Avith the mate, or 
rather pilot, of the renowned May Flower. He 
was father of several children, among whom was 
the famous Nathaniel Clarke, the successor to 
Secretary Morton, and a Councillor under the 
notorious Andros ; and Susaima, the first wife of 
the Hon. Barnabas Lothrop, of Barnstable, an 
Assistant to the Plymouth Colony previous to its 



43 



union with Massachusetts, and afterwards a mem- 
ber of the Council of the Province of Massa- 
chusetts Bay. 

The above is the earHest that can be found of 
Mr. Shurtleif, and nothing is known with certainty 
concerning his parentage, nor the time of his arri- 
val in this country, nor of the causes or induce- 
ments which led him, at such a tender age, to 
leave his native land. 

If it can be inferred from circumstances, he came 
from Yorkshire, in England ; for in the West Ri- 
ding of that County, and in a portion of it called 
Hallamshire, is situated the village of Ecclesfield, 
about five miles due north of the famous town of 
Sheffield, and about twenty from Scrooby, lately 
shown by JVIr. Hunter to be the early gathering 
place of the Puritans before they left England for 
Holland. In this village, at a seat called Whitley- 
hall, once resided the only family, of which we 
have any knowledge, who bore the name previous 
to the appearance of William Shurtleff, or any other 
person of the name, in America. Therefore it is 
not unreasonable to suppose that he, living so 
near the nestling-place of the Leyden Pilgrims, 



44 



and being of an enthusiastic age, became fired 
by the spirit of adventure or inspired with the 
holy zeal of the Puritans ; and thus became one 
of the first settlers of the town of Plymouth, and 
one of the forefathers of New England. 

This name, like almost all others of ancient date, 
was variously spelled. First it appears as Chier- 
cUfFe, then ChyreclifFe, ShierclifFe, and afterwards 
Shirtleff. The vowels, e, i, u, and y, were very 
promiscuously used in both syllables, according 
to individual caprice or fashion. In New England^ 
although the orthography is exceedingly various in 
old records, the name being scarcely spelt tAvice 
in the same manner, owing to ^vriters spelling it 
according to the sound received by each, the first 
comer wrote it Shurtlef, as did also his children. 
What induced his grandson to double the final 
letter, and write his name Shurtleff, cannot now 
be ascertained, but must be attributed to the 
fashion of the time in which he lived. Be this 
as it may, the change has been considered so 
proper, that it has been almost universally adopt- 
ed by the family, and continued in use to the 
present time. 



45 



In 1643 Mr. Shurtleff was certainly an inhab- 
itant of Plymouth, where he was enrolled as being 
of the required age to perform military service 
for the Colony. Undoubtedly, he remained there 
during the whole term of his apprenticeship, which 
terminated in May, 1645. How much longer he 
dwelt in Plymouth has not been accurately ascer- 
tained, although it is kno^vn that he was an inhab- 
itant of that town as late as September, 1659. 

The same " Will'" Shertcliffe for breaking the 
peace vpon John Smyth is fyned v' " on the fifth 
of June, 1644 ; and on the second of October, 
1650, the authorities " present James Cole of the 
towne of Plymouth for making of a batter ie vppon 
Willam Shirtley of the aforesaid towne." ' Such 
items are not uncommon in the old records. 

In 1646 his name appears in a list of names 
comprising the •Townsmen of Plymouth. 

At the General Court of the Colony, held at 
Plymouth on the third of June, 1656, he first 
appears in pubhc life, being chosen one of " the 
Surveyors for the highwaies," for the town of 
Plymouth. In recording this event his name is 
written "Willam Shirtley." 



46 



" Willam Shirtley" is found serving as Juryman 
on the sixth of October, 1657, in a controversy 
between two residents of Plymouth. 

On the seventh of June, 1659, " Willam Shurt- 
ley" was chosen Constable for Plymouth, and 
on the same day, as "Willam Shirtley," he was 
first on a list of names of " such as stand pro- 
pounded to take vp their freedom." 

The following entry is made in the Colonial 

Court Orders, under dale of the fii'st of May, 

1660 ; probably it is the last during his connection 

with Plymouth, of which he was then Constable :— 

" Willam Shurtlife ) were admitted freemen 

and John Caruer \ att this Court." 

He probably removed to Marshfield about this 
time, as his name cannot be found any later in 
any of the records of the Town of Plymouth. 
Nor can it be ascertained that he "ever became a 
member of the Church at Plymouth, although it 
is known that he was a member of some Church 
accordmg to statute requisition. Unfortunately the 
Church Records of Marshfield are not in a condi- 
tion to show whether he was in church-feUowship 
in that town. 



47 



His name is not on any list of freemen which 
has been preserved among the Plymouth Colonial 
Eecords, owing to the fact that none of them 
were taken during the time which elapsed between 
his admission and death. Nevertheless, on a list 
of the freemen of the town of Marshfield, taken 
for town purposes in 1664, and preserved in the 
records of that town, his name occurs with thirty 
one others. 

While in Plymouth his estate was at Strawberry 
hill near the Reed Pond, and not far from the 
present bounds of Kingston. 

In Marshfield he resided in the eastern part of 
the town, in the neighborhood of what is now- 
called White's Ferry, near the mouth of North 
River. He was in possession of this estate at the 
time of his decease, having bought it a short time 
previous of Mr. Thomas Tilden. The deed, which 
was dated on the sixth of July, 1670, four years 
after his decease, states that thirty three pounds 
sterhng had been formerly paid for the same by 
" William Shirtleifie," of Marshfield, then deceased. 
The " house and lands" had formerly belonged to 
Mr. Robert Waterman, and had been bought by 



48 



him of the administrator on the estate of Mr. 
Thomas Howell, deceased. 

Besides his land at Strawberry hill and Marsh* 
field, he had several grants from the Court of 
Assistants. On the third of June, 1662, he and 
twenty three others had an allotment of land in 
the following words : — "It was further graunted 
by this court that the abouesaid servants and an- 
cient freem3n shall haue liber tie in case they can 
not procure Saconett necke" [ now Little Compton ] 
" according to the graunt . To looke out some 
other place vndisposed of for theire accomodation." 
At the Court held on the fifth of June, 1666, 
less than three weeks before his decease, he had 
another grant of land in the following words : — 
"The court haue graunted that Willam ShirtlifFe 
shalbee accomodated with land amongst the ser- 
vants neare vnto the Bay line." 

He also had land at " Punckateesett," now 
called Tiverton; and after his decease his heirs 
received in his right a conveyance of land at 
Saconet from the Indians. 

From an instrument recorded with the Old Col- 
ony deeds it is ascertained that he sold meadow 



49 



land in Plymouth to Gabriel Fallowell on the 
twenty seventh of March, 1660, at which time he 
was called of Marshfield. Perhaps he was then 
preparing to change his place of residence, or had 
actually done so since the fifteenth of the previous 
September, when he certainly was a townsman 
and office-holder in Plymouth. 

His dwelling-house in Marshfield was destroyed 
1)y fire early in the year 1666, and on this accomit 
he was sojourning at the house of his near neigh- 
l)or, Mr, John Phillips, at the time of the occur- 
rence of the lightning which caused his death. 

From the several accounts of his death that 
have been preserved, together with facts which 
have been transmitted from generation to genera- 
tion in the family, and other data obtained from 
authentic sources, the following particulars regarding 
this event have been deduced. 

While he was partaking of the hospitality of 
Mr. Phillips, it appears that one of those dreadful 
droughts occurred, which were so very distressing 
to our early planters, and threatened to destroy 
all the fruits of their spring labor. On account 
of this the good people of several neighboring 



50 



congregations observed a day of fasting and prayer, 
as they were wont to do, in those days, when 
suffering under afflictive dispensations. 

Soon after this, on the twenty third of June, 
1666, happened the terrific thunder-storm which 
is so graphically described in the letter of Rev. 
Mr. Arnold. At the time of this storm there 
were fourteen persons in the common sitting-room 
of the house of Mr. Phillips. Perhaps they were 
the followmg: — Mr. John Phillips and his wife 
Grace ; Jeremiah Phillips, a young man of about 
twenty years of age, son of Mr. Phillips ; four 
other young children of Mr. Phillips ; Grace and 
Hannah Holloway, the two children of Mrs. Phil- 
lips by her former husband ; Mr. William Shurtletf 
and his wife Elizabeth, and their sons William and 
Thomas ; and, finally, Mr. Timothy Rogers, the 
individual who related the circumstances to Mr. 
Arnold, the "writer of the letter which has been 
the means of preserving many of the particulars 
of this sad event. These persons were mostly 
seated aromid the room. Mr. Shurtleff was sitting 
beside his wife, holding her hand in his, and having 
one of then* children in his arms, the other being 



51 



between him and a table under which was a dog. 
The storm of rain coming on with great violence, 
Mrs. Phillips requested to have the door closed. 
Whereupon a stroke of lightning passed down the 
chimney, which it rent to pieces, smote down 
most of the persons, if not all, instantly kilhng 
Mr. Shurtleff, Mrs. Phillips and Jeremiah Philhps, 
and then passed out through the door, sphtting 
it into fragments. This occurred on Saturday ; 
and they were buried on the following day, being* 
the twenty fourth, according to an entry made in 
the Marshfield town records. 

It is shown in the Plymouth Colony Records 
that " Willam Sliirtley married vnto Elizabeth 
Lattice the 18"^ of October 1655." She was a 
daughter of Thomas and Anne Lettice of Ply- 
moulh, who were in New England as early as 
16o8, if not in 1635. They had three sons, 
William, Thomas and Abiel. 

William, the oldest son and " heir apparent," 
as he is styled m a recorded document, was 
born at Plymouth in 1657. He married Susanna, 
daughter of Hon. Barnabas Lothrop of Barnstable, 
in October, 1683, and died on the fourth of Feb- 



52 



ruary, 1729-30, in the seventy second year ol his 
age. He was a Selectman of Plymouth for some 
years, Captain of the train-band, a Delegate to the 
Provincial Assembly in 1694, and Town Treasm-er 
from 1695 to 1704, inclusive. When the tOAvn of 
Plympton was set off from Plymouth and incorpo- 
rated he became an inhabitant of the new town : 
and at the first election for town officers, wliich 
took place on the first day of March, 1707-8, he 
was chosen Clerk. This office he held three years, 
and the earliest records of that town, written by 
him, are now preserved and are in excellent order. 
His wife, a grandaughter of Rev. John Lotlirop 
and of the Thomas Clarke already mentioned, bare 
him eight sons and five daughters, among whom 
was Rev. William ShurtlefF late of Newcastle and 
Portsmouth, N. H. She died at Plympton on the 
ninth of August, 1726, in the sixty third year of 
her age, having been born at Barnstable on the 
twenty eighth of February, 1664-5. 

Thomas, the second son, is supposed to have 
been the person who married Sarah Kimball at 
Plympton on the twenty first of May, 1713. No 
evidence of the time of his decease or of his hav- 



53 



ing had any issue has been found, ahhough very 
tlihgent search has been made. 

Abiel, the third and youngest son, was born at 
Marshfield in June, 1666, a very short time after 
the decease of his father. At his birth there was 
a considerable debate about his name. By some it 
was thought that he should bo called after Boaner- 
ges, ( Children of Thunder, ) as mentioned in the 
New Testament; but the difficulty of converting 
the plural name to the singular number fortunately 
prevailed against the infliction of an appellation 
which was far from being euphonious. The scrip- 
tural name Abiel, which, interpreted into English 
from the Hebrew, signifies " God my father," being 
sufficiently indicative of his posthumous birth, was 
adopted as the most satisfactory. He dwelt in 
Plymouth, where he married, on the fourteenth of 
January, 1695-6, Lydia Barnes, daughter of Jona- 
than and Elizabeth, and Avas the father of seven 
sons and three daughters. He was a Selectman 
of Plymouth, and held other offices in that town. 
Like his brothers, William and Thomas, he spent 
the last years of his life in Plympton. There he 
died on the twenty eighth of October, 1732, in 

F 



54 



the sixty seventh year of his age. Lydia, his wife, 
died on the tenth of September, 1727, in the fifty 
thhd year of her age, she having been born at 
Plymouth on the fourth of July, 1674. 

A few years after the death of the first Wilham 
Shurtleff, Elizabeth, his widow, married on the 
eighteenth of November, 1669, Mr. Jacob Cooke, 
son of the Mr. Francis Cooke who came in the 
May Flower, and of his wife Esther, or Hester 
as the name is usually written. Mr. Jacob Cooke 
was a widower at the time of his marriage with 
Mrs. Shurtleff, his first wife having been Dam- 
aris, a daughter of Mr. Stephen Hopkins, also a 
passenger of the May Flower. Mr. Jacob Cooke 
died in 1676 ; and on the first day of January, 
1688-9, his widow married, for her third husband, 
Mr. Hugh Cole, of Swansey, formerly of Ply- 
mouth, she being his second wife, his first having 
been Mary Foxwell. Mrs Cole died a few years 
afterwards, and Mr. Cole married a third wife. 

The descendants of Mr. Shurtleff lived during 
the first three generations mostly in what now com- 
prises Plymouth County, chiefly m Plymouth and 
the part of Plympton which now forms Carver. 



55 



A little more than a century ago, one parish of 
the town of Plympton contained more legal voters 
of the name of Shurtleft" than can now be found 
within the limits of the Commonwealth of Massa- 
chusetts, and, perhaps, in the United States. 

Branches of the family can be found permanently 
settled in various parts of Massachusetts, and in 
a few other States of the Union. 



ft-l-. 



H 



\\\ 



